IN ENGLAND…

• Will Steven Gerrard’s final Merseyside derby be one to remember?
Unless Liverpool and Everton are drawn against each other in the Europa League, Saturday’s meeting at Goodison Park will be Gerrard’s 33rd and final Merseyside derby. The Liverpool skipper will be hoping to maintain his enviable record in these matches, having secured 17 victories, 10 draws and five defeats in his previous 32. With 10 goals to his name, only Ian Rush has scored more derby goals for Liverpool in this fixture.

IN FRANCE…

• Is Sunday’s showdown between Lyon and PSG a title decider?
The match has been billed as such, but by the time these two meet on Sunday, they may be lying in second and third place respectively. Marseille, with a better goal difference, will go top on Saturday if they win at Rennes. Sunday’s game will, though, shed more light on Lyon’s title credentials, not least as they will be without the services of leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette.

IN GERMANY…

• Will Jurgen Klopp remain unsackable?
He may have led Borussia Dortmund to successive Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League Final, but after an 11th domestic defeat of the season – at home to 10-man Augsburg in midweek – anything other than a win at Freiburg will see his side remain rooted to the bottom of the table and doubts about “Kloppo” resurface.

IN ITALY…

• Is a vote of confidence worth the paper it’s not written on?
According to chief executive Adriano Galliani, Filippo Inzaghi’s position as Milan coach is secure for the time being. However, with Milan languishing in mid-table and facing a trip to leaders Juventus on Saturday night, the patience of Galliani and club owner Silvio Berlusconi will surely be pushed to the limit by a heavy defeat.

IN SPAIN…

• Is there any chance of Real beating Atletico?
Real have failed to get the better of their neighbours  in five meetings so far this season, and although their hopes at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Saturday will be increased by the return of Cristano Romnaldo after suspension, James Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos miss out with injuries.

IN AFRICA…

• Can Ghana and Ivory Coast produce a better match than the last time they met in the final?
It’s the final most neutrals would have wanted and brings together the two highest ranked teams in Africa. The last time these two teams met in the final was in 1992, when a terrible match ended goalless, with Ivory Coast eventually triumphing 11−10 on penalties. Any improvement on that stalemate would be most welcome this time around.